The Chronological Gap and Contributing Factors of Foreign-Origin Bronze Mirrors in the Three Kingdoms Period

In the southern region of the Korean Peninsula during the Three Kingdoms period, foreign-origin bronze mirrors have a “Time of Peak”, which is inferred from their morphological characteristics, and the “Time of Disposal”, which is estimated through associated artifacts. The chronological gap between these two times has raised various issues, including the characteristics of the bronze mirrors. The purpose of this paper is to reconsider this chronological gap from a new perspective by focusing on the social and cultural background surrounding bronze mirrors. The distribution of foreign-origin bronze mirrors excavated in the southern region of the Korean Peninsula during the Three Kingdoms period directly reflects changes in external exchanges and international networks over time. Additionally, bronze mirrors similar to those found in the southern Korean Peninsula have intermittently been identified in China since the Eastern Jin period. This suggests that Bronze Mirrors could have been introduced at a time close to the “Time of Disposal”, regardless of the chronological gap. Meanwhile, the long-term retention and use of Bronze Mirrors in the Korean Peninsula can be examined with reference to cases from China and Japan. Based on this discussion, this paper identifies various factors, including the passing down of artifacts through generations, that may have contributed to the occurrence of the chronological gap in bronze mirrors. There are multiple factors behind the delayed disposal of artifacts from earlier periods, which cannot be explained by a single framework alone. The chronological gap observed in bronze mirrors is not merely a matter of time lag but rather a result of the complex interplay of diverse social and cultural contexts in Northeast Asia at the time.